Acquisition of a Varian Saturn 2200 GC/MS for Undergraduate Research Projects at the Interface of Chemistry and Biology

Suny College At Purchase, Purchase NY

Investigators

Abstract

With this award from the Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) Program, the Department of Chemistry at Purchase College, State University of New York will acquire a gas chromatograph with mass spectrometric (GC/MS) detection. This equipment will enhance research in a number of areas including a) cuticular hydrocarbons of Hawaiian Drosophila: Drosophila heteroneura and Drosophila silvestris; b) cuticular hydrocarbons and pheromones of the Drosophila paulistorum semispecies; c) organoselenium chemoprevention in promotion phase of rat mammary cancer; d) investigation of the effects of propylene glycol on the biodiversity and chemical balance of Blind Brook; e) synthesis of aryltrimethylsilanes via the Diels-Alder reaction; and f) biological degradation of methyl tert-butyl ether in aqueous systems and soil microcosms. Gas chromatograph with mass spectrometric detection (GC-MS) is an extremely powerful technique used for the separation and analysis of complex mixtures. These studies will have significant impact in a variety of areas, including chemistry, biology and environmental sciences.